Game 19

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Honda Center

TV: Prime Ticket

Radio: AM 830

Your Enemy: Winging It In Motown

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hopefully you’ve experienced some healing after the Edmonton Oilers trounced the Ducks. Luckily, it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and I’m feelin’ good. Time to put our short-term memory loss to good use and look to the next opponent.

The Detroit Red Wings roll into town to face the Anaheim Ducks in a game where both teams have high hopes for a victory. The Red Wings are flying high after a very successful weekend. While they haven’t won often, when they did, they took out some of the better teams in the league. As recent as this past weekend, the Red Wings defeated the Boston Bruins and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Newly acquired LW Robby Fabbri came in after the St. Louis Blues decided to give him a fresh start elsewhere after multiple healthy scratches. In his first two games, Fabbri has already provided a much needed offensive boost and seems like a natural fit next to Anthony Mantha.

Meanwhile, in the midst of a long homestand, Anaheim has been mediocre at best. Even though it has been exciting to see the young players develop and learn from their mistakes, one can’t help but to have low expectations for a team that is struggling to stay healthy, especially on the blue line. With both Josh Manson and Hampus Lindholm on the Injured Reserve List, it will be difficult to stay competitive. All Ducks fans can hope for is Brendan Guhle to help stabilize a struggling defense and for John Gibson to steal a win here and there.

Speaking of Brendan Guhle...

Player Watch

Monday morning, the Ducks announced that defenseman Brendan Guhle was recalled from the San Diego Gulls and will likely draw back into the lineup, immediately becoming one of the best defenseman on the team (depending on how you feel about Cam Fowler). Guhle had a successful run with the Gulls posting a goal and three assists. Look for him to build on that momentum tonight.

Keys to the Game

1. Don’t play a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl - Check! That was easy.
2. Protect Your Goalie - Look, if the Ducks are going to suck struggle, at least protect the guy who is suffering the most, John Gibson. Early in the game against the Oilers, Zack Kassian took three whacks at a covered puck and didn’t end up on his bum after the whistle. Don’t take careless penalties, but stand up for your own.
3. Watch the Slot - The slot has continued to be a soft area against the Ducks and Robby Fabbri has made his presence known in that area in his first two games with the Red Wings. The whole roster will need to pay close attention to that lane, especially on the penalty kill, because, let’s face it, they will be on the PK quite a bit. Need proof that the Ducks are getting overwhelmed in the slot? Prepare your eyes for the viz below.

What are you looking for in tonight’s game? Is there a player you’re particularly watching? Let us know in the comments below!